I.gen. plur.: “procum patricium in descriptione classium quam facit, Serv. Tullius, significat procerum,” Fest. p. 249 Müll.; cf.: “jam (ut censoriae tabulae loquuntur) fabrum et procum audeo dicere, non fabrorum et procorum,” Cic. Or. 46, 156), m. pro and root kar- of creo; cf. procērus.
I. Lit., a chief, noble; plur., the leading men, chiefs, nobles, princes (class.; syn.: primores, optimates, primi): scindunt proceres Pergamum, the Grecian chiefs, princes, * Plaut. Bacch. 4, 9, 130: “audiebam nostros proceres clamitantes,” Cic. Fam. 13, 15, 1: “Latinorum,” Liv. 1, 45, 2: “Etruscorum,” id. 2, 10: “ego proceribus civitatis annumeror,” Tac. A. 14, 53: “Caecina Largus e proceribus,” Plin. 17, 1, 1, § 5: “delectos populi ad proceres,” Verg. A. 3, 58: “castrorum,” Luc. 7, 69: “in procerum coetu,” id. 8, 261; Juv. 2, 121; 3, 213: “proceres rerum,” Sil. 11, 142.—Transf., of bees: “procerum seditio,” Col. 9, 9, 6.—In sing.: “agnosco procerem,” Juv. 8, 26: “in pueritiā fuit pastor nonnumquam et procer,” a leader, captain, Capitol. Max. 2.—
II. Trop., the foremost or most celebrated men, the masters in an art, science, etc. (post-Aug.): “proceres artis ejus (medicinae),” Plin. 29, 1, 8, § 26: “sapientiae,” id. 7, 30, 31, § 112: “gulae,” id. 9, 17, 30, § 66: “indicatis in genere utroque (pingendi) proceribus,” id. 35, 11, 40, § 138.